Rainfall Totals Get a Big Boost in September
This has been our wettest September since 1964, when Patagonia received 8.13 inches of rain*. Two hurricanes in the Gulf of California sent several storms our way after July and August had already brought about 9 inches of rain to the region, which may make this year’s monsoon season total a record high.
Dave Teel reports that the town well has risen two feet, eight inches since its low in June, and he expects it will rise further as recent rains move through the alluvial soils.
More good news on the water front is the town’s recent receipt of two checks totaling $360,000 from the federal government to complete the upgrades to our water system. A bureaucratic mix-up at the U.S. Department of Agriculture put the project on hold for almost a month, but Teel says the contractor is now back at work and expects the project to be completed by December.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows our part of Arizona as experiencing “moderate drought,” while almost the entire state of California is in a state of “extreme or exceptional drought.” Following six dry months, the monsoon season has put Patagonia’s rainfall total back in the black, and we head into fall with no major wildfires.
*according to the Western Regional Climate Center’s precipitation tables for Patagonia since 1921.
Velvet Elvis Hosts Bug Convention
Omissions & Errors
Our article on Steve Schmitt in the September issue was headed “Tom Schmitt Is Taking Care of Business”. In the article, we referred to its larger store as Sonoita Feed—which should have been High Noon Feed and Tack. Sorry, Steve!
In the article about the proposal to extend the Richardson Park basketball court, we incorrectly reported that Charles Montoy was offering to match a donation of up to $1000. In fact, that offer was made by the Patagonia Regional Business coalition.
A listing of the Tree and Park Committee in the September article titled “Town Awarded $5000 For Trees”, was incomplete. Members are: Jason Botz, Bethany Brandt, Yunghi Choi, Barbara Ellis, Susan Englebry, Ann Gosline, Harry Hower, Mary McKay, Cornelia O’Connor, German Quiroga, Caleb Weaver, Andy Wood. The $5,000 grant they received is through the Arizona State Forestry Division and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rail X Break-Ins Still Under Investigation
Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Lieutenant Raoul Rodriquez says that there are presently no suspects in the Rail X Ranch Estates break-ins that happened last February. “We have fingerprints and DNA but there is no match for them in our database,” said the deputy.
Two incidents on the same day involved both burglary and vandalism in the gated community just north of Patagonia.
Rodriquez said the perpetrators could have been Mexican or juveniles or adult Americans who have never been arrested.
He explained that the fingerprints and DNA are now in the database and that if anyone is arrested for another crime who matches the information now on file, they will be questioned.
Who’s On Our School Boards?
Do you know who’s representing you on the school boards? Here are the School Boards that serve us, and their members.
Patagonia Union High School District – Fred Sang (President), Julie Hendricks (Clerk), Jim Cosbey, Starr Norton, Ronald Pitt
Patagonia Elementary School District – Brenda Samosa (President), Janet Winans (Clerk), Cynthia Matus Morris, Bernice Pomeroy
Elgin School District – Foster Drummond (President), Mike Sweedo (Clerk), Alan Neal, Gary Brown, Sharon McCully
Patagonia Montessori Elementary School – Jessie Beebe (President), Mindy LaReau (Clerk and Secretary/Treasurer), Fay Main, Kristin Krzyz
Answer:
Exercise caution, you are on the track of one of the west’s most adorable and malodorous creatures, the Spotted Skunk (Spilogale gracilis). The skunk isn’t particularly fond of its own odor and will resist spraying until it seems imperative. When sufficiently provoked, it will hiss, foot-stomp and raise its tail. To actually spray, the skunk will do a hand-stand, arch its back and shoot forward. (No, really.) Given time, it may wave its tail from the handstand position as further warning before spraying. If, like your average dog, you ignore so blatant a warning, it can shoot as far as twelve feet with great accuracy and as often as 8 times; your defeat is inevitable. Skunks are very social and several will often share a den, although males are not welcome when offspring are present. Males reciprocate by refusing any child-rearing duties. Skunks’ vision is poor, their sense of smell acute, and 24 they are generally nocturnal.